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José María Giménez
José María Giménez.jpg
Giménez playing for Uruguay at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-01-20) 20 January 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Toledo, Uruguay
Height 1.85 m
Playing position Centre-back
Club information
Current club Atlético Madrid
Number 2
Youth career
Danubio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Danubio 16 (0)
2013– Atlético Madrid 236 (6)
National team
2013 Uruguay U20 13 (0)
2013– Uruguay 90 (8)
Honours
Representing  Uruguay
Men's Football
Copa América
Third 2024 United States
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up 2013 Turkey
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 November 2024.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2024

José María Giménez de Vargas (Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse maˈɾi.a xiˈmenes ðe ˈβaɾɣas]; born 20 January 1995) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and captains the Uruguay national team.

After starting out his professional career with Danubio FC, Giménez moved to Spain, signing for Atlético Madrid ahead of the 2013–14 season. A solid, powerful and fast moving defender, Giménez settled quickly with the club, winning four major titles with the latter, including the La Liga title in his debut season.

At international level, Giménez made his Uruguay debut in 2013, and has since represented the nation at three FIFA World Cups and five editions of the Copa América.

Club career

Danubio

Born in Toledo, Giménez made his professional debut for Danubio F.C. in the Uruguayan Primera División on 17 November 2012 (when the manager was Juan Ramón Carrasco) against River Plate in which he started and played the full 90 minutes as Danubio lost the match 2–0.

Atlético Madrid

Loko-AM2018 (2)
Giménez with Atlético in 2018

On 25 April 2013, it was confirmed that Giménez had signed for €900,000 with Spanish side Atlético Madrid, and would join the club in the pre-season of the 2013–14 season. On 14 September, Giménez made his Atleti – and La Liga – debut, starting in a 4–2 home win over UD Almería.

Giménez scored his first goal for the club on 6 December 2014, opening a 2–0 win away to Elche CF to move Atlético into second place. He also scored a header against their biggest rival Real Madrid in Atlético's 2–0 win in the Copa del Rey in January 2015.

On 20 February 2019, Giménez scored the opener in 2-0 home win against Italian champions Juventus to give Atlético the advantage in the first leg of the Round of 16 fixture in the UEFA Champions League.

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Giménez was made third captain of the team, behind Koke and Jan Oblak.

International career

Go Uruguay! - Arriba Uruguay! - 140619-6398-jikatu (14307280607)
Giménez (upper row, second from the right) lining up for a team photo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Giménez participated for Uruguay at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup as the team finished as runner-up to France.

He debuted for the Uruguay senior team in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Colombia on 10 September 2013.

On 2 June 2014, Giménez was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals. The 19-year-old defender made his tournament debut against England in the team's second group match, deputising for the injured captain Diego Lugano in a 2–1 victory for La Celeste. He went on to start in the final group match – a 1–0 win over Italy – and the 2–0 round of 16 loss to Colombia.

Giménez scored his first international goal in a 1–0 friendly win against South Korea on 8 September 2014. In May 2015, he was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2015 Copa América by coach Óscar Tabárez. On 20 June, he scored Uruguay's goal in a 1–1 draw with Paraguay which saw both teams progress to the knockout stage.

In May 2018 he was named in Uruguay's provisional 26-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On 15 June, with the score tied at 0–0, he scored the winning goal in the final minute of Uruguay's opening game of the World Cup against Egypt.

In March 2019, Tabárez included Giménez in the final 23-man Uruguay squad for the 2019 Copa América in Brazil. He headed the equaliser in the 2–2 group draw with Japan in Porto Alegre, and was the only Uruguayan in the Team of the Tournament despite a quarter-final exit.

Personal life

José is married to Regina Iafolla, who he had been dating since they were teenagers. They have two children together, Lautaro and Luciano.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Danubio 2012–13 Uruguayan Primera División 16 0 0 0 16 0
Atlético Madrid 2013–14 La Liga 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
2014–15 20 1 4 1 4 0 28 2
2015–16 27 1 2 0 8 0 37 1
2016–17 17 0 6 1 6 0 29 1
2017–18 23 1 4 1 11 0 38 2
2018–19 21 0 2 0 5 2 1 0 29 2
2019–20 21 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 27 0
2020–21 21 0 1 0 4 1 26 1
2021–22 24 1 1 0 7 0 1 0 33 1
2022–23 28 2 3 0 5 0 36 2
2023–24 22 0 3 0 7 0 1 0 33 0
2024–25 11 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 14 1
Total 236 6 27 3 65 4 4 0 332 13
Career total 252 6 27 3 65 4 4 0 348 13

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Uruguay 2013 3 0
2014 12 2
2015 10 1
2016 5 0
2017 9 1
2018 8 3
2019 11 1
2020 2 0
2021 13 0
2022 8 0
2023 2 0
2024 7 0
Total 90 8
Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by José Giménez
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 8 September 2014 Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea  South Korea 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 13 November 2014 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay  Costa Rica 2–2 3–3
3. 20 June 2015 Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile  Paraguay 1–0 1–1 2015 Copa América
4. 4 June 2017 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland  Republic of Ireland 1–1 1–3 Friendly
5. 7 June 2018 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay  Uzbekistan 3–0 3–0
6. 15 June 2018 Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg, Russia  Egypt 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup
7. 7 September 2018 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States  Mexico 1–0 4–1 Friendly
8. 20 June 2019 Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre, Brazil  Japan 2–2 2–2 2019 Copa América

Honours

Atlético Madrid

Uruguay U20

Uruguay

Individual

See also

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